Device for actuating hookless closures



June 2, 1959 A. A. LEBERMANN 2,838,728

DEVICE FOR ACTUATING HOOKLESS CLOSURES I Filed July 24, 1957 mA NM we we a E L A .w u G u A ATTO RN IiY 2,888,728 DEVICE FOR ACTUA'HNG HOGKLESS CLOURES August A. 'Lebermann, West Los Angeles, ilalif. Application .l'uly 24-, 1957, Serial No. 673,978

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-29515) This invention relates to a device for actuating zipper fasteners to open or closed positions and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

Zipper fasteners have become quite popular in use upon clothing and particularly womens clothing their placement usually being at the back or side portions of the garments and at such locations a great deal or" inconvenience is encountered both in the closing and opening of the fastener.

It is therefore the cardinal object of the invention to provide an actuating device having means for engaging the slider lever of the fastener, including a flexible pull cord which may be drawn upon from the front of the garment for effecting the closure or opening of the fastener.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an actuating means for zipper fasteners, wherein a pull cord includes a hook member having a shank for slidably mounting a ball member, the latter cooperating with the hook to secure the same to the slider lever of the fastener, the shank having ofiset portions for retaining the ball in either open or closed positions with respect to the hook.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention as embodied with the slider lever for closing the fastener located at the rear of a garment.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the invention when employed for opening the closure of the garment.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of the invention illustrating the hook of the device engaged with the slider lever of the fastener, the ball of the device being in position to prevent disengagement of the hook from the slider lever.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the ball showing the hook in closed position and Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the hook in open position.

There is illustrated a zipper fastener operator generally indicated by the reference character comprising a flexible pull cord of any suitable length upon one end of which a ring or other suitable grip 12 is secured.

Upon the opposite end of the pull cord 11, a single shank is secured as at 14. The shank 13 is formed with a hook member 15 at its lower end, said shank being further formed with portions 16 and is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank.

A spherical ball or other body member 17 is employed for closing the hook 15 as well as releasing the same. The ball 17 is formed with a central bore 18 through which the shank 13 passes. The olfset portion 16' of the shank frictionally engages the wall of the bore and thus retains the ball in its closed relation with respect to the terminal end of the hook. In the open position 2,888,728 Patented June 2, 1959 of the hook, as shown in Figure 5, the ball has been moved upwardly upon the shank and the offset portion 16' has been drawn into the bore and retains the ball in such position. The ball 17 is preferably of such diameter as to present a surface substantially greater than the width of the zipper fastener so as to separate the side edges of a placket of a garment as well as raise the same for free sliding movement of the'slider. The ball also functions to elevate the slider lever so as to release the usual locking detent of zipper fasteners.

In use, with the slider lever 19 at the lowermost portion of the closure of a garment, as shown in Figure 1, the ball 17 being spaced from the hook 15 (see Figure 5) the hook may be readily inserted in the slot 20 of the lever 19 and the ball is then moved downwardly upon the shank to engage the terminal end of the hook as seen in Figure 3. The pull cord 11 may be passed over the shoulder of the wearer of the garment and a pull on the cord will draw the slider upwardly effecting closure of the zipper fastener 21. When it is desired to unfasten the Zipper, the slider being at the upper portion of the garment, the hook 15 is engaged in the slot 20, the ball 17 moved to contact the hook and a downward pulling movement on the cord 11 (see Figure 2) will move the slider to the lowermost portion of the fastener. In either of the above operations, the hook 15 may be readily released by merely sliding the ball on the shank.

It will be appreciated that when the ball is in contacting relation with the hook all possibility of the hook engaging portions of the garment is eliminated and in addition when the ball is drawn along the zipper fastener adjacent portions of a garment will be caused to separate permitting free movement of the slider.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the device this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for actuating the slider of a zipper fastener, the slider being provided with a lever having a slot, a hook adapted to engage said slot, the hook having a single shank and means for securing a pull cord thereto, and spherical means of substantial diameter slidable on the shank to move into and out of engagement with said hook and said lever.

2. A device for actuating the slider of a zipper fastener, the slider having a lever provided with a slot; comprising a single shank having means at one end for securement of a pull cord of a length to extend from the lower portion of the Zipper fastener to a point beyond the shoulder of a user enabling the user to manipulate the slider up or down the back of a garment worn by the user, a hook member upon the opposite end of said shank adapted to engage in the slot of the slider lever and spherical means of substantial diameter on the shank slidable into and out of engagement with the terminal end of said hook and said lever.

3. A device for actuating the slider of a zipper fastener, the slider being provided with a lever having a slot; comprising a single shank having means at one end for securement of a pull cord of a length to extend from the lower portion of the zipper fastener to a point beyond the shoulder of a user enabling the user to manipulate the slider up or down the back of a garment worn by the user, a hook member upon the opposite end of the shank adapted to engage in the slot of the slider lever, and a spherical member having a central bore formed therethrough for slidable retention of the shank whereby the terminal end of the hook may be brought into and out of engagement with said spherical member and said spherical member being of substantial diameter whereby to efiect an upward lift of said slider lever.

4. A device for actuating the slider of a zipper fastener, the slider being provided with a lever having a slot; comprising a single shank having means at one end for securement of a pullcord of a length to extend from the lower portion of the zipper fastener to a point beyond the shoulder of a user enabling the user to manipulate the slider up or down the back of a garment worn by the user, a hook member upon the opposite end of said shank adapted to engage in the slot of the slider lever, a spherical member having a bore formed therethrough, the shank being slidable through said bore whereby the terminal end of the hook may be brought into and out 4 of engagement with said spherical member, and said shank having spaced offset portions for frictional engagement with the bore in either portion of the spherical member and said spherical member being of substantial diameter whereby to efiect an upward lift of said slider lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,615 Harkins Mar. .22, 1910 2,531,805 Clark Nov. 28, 1950 2,811,763 Jordan Nov. 5, 1957 

